Irene Fogel Weiss

January 1945

Irene Fogel Weiss

May 1944

The Holocaust Survivor

In Jan 1945, Irene's death march started. She was forced to leave the camp. They had to march on foot in the cold. They went from camp to camp. One of her aunts got sick and was killed. During the walk, if you stopped for even a second, you were shot and killed. Irene, her older sister, and her other aunt all survived.

She was a normal kid. She had a normal life, until the Holocaust. She was born in Czechoslovakia in 1930. She was just 13 when thousands of Jews, including herself, were rounded up and forced to live in an overcrowded ghetto. Beginning in May 1944, they started taking all of the people in ghettos and taking them to Auschwitz. There were horrible living conditions and people were even killed. She was forced into labor for 8 long months. Eventually, the gates opened and they were forced to go on a death walk, which she survived. She eventually immigrated to New York.

1942

Jan 1945

1947

In May 1944, the Monte Cassino was captured. In february, there were bombs rained down on the Monte Cassino. The ordeal happened for 5 months. Finally after those long 5 months, the Polish troops captured the Monte Cassino.

In 1942, Irene's father was forced to go to war. Many Jewish men were forced to this. They would be forced to walk on fields in order for the soldiers not to step on mines. They would have to do many other dangerous tasks like this one.

In Jan 1945, Battle of the Bulge. This battle was Hitler's last major event in WW2. He was trying to split the Allies. The Germans failed to do so and led the Allies to victory.

In 1947, the Paris Peace Treaties were signed. These were a series of treaties signed by the Allies and European countries who helped Germany and were defeated. This finally ended the war in Europe and made the continent peaceful once again.

1947

In 1947, Irene, Serena, and their aunt Rose immigrated to New York, USA. They used the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society to do so.

Her life now , conclusion

April 1944

She is still alive and well. She has 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and even 3 greatgrandchildren. Sadly, her husband died in early 2013. She taught in Virginia for 13 years, but she now volunteers at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

In April 1944, the Russians attacked the Germans. The Russians wanted to win back the Crimea which is in southern Ukraine. The Germas retreated after just four days.

In April 1944, Irene was forced to live in a ghetto with thousands of other Jews. These Jews contained men, women, and children. This ghetto was in a brick factory. There were hundreds of families forced to live in this place. Irene had to shave her hair since all girls under 16 had to shave their hair off.

May 1944

1942

In May 1944, Irene was put into Auschwitz. The Nazis rounded up 420,000 Jews, in a two-month period, and put them in Auschwitz. She was seperated from her family. Her father and older brother were put with the men. Sadly, her mother and younger siblings were killed in the gas chambers. Her and her older sister were chosen for forced labor. She was in there for 8 months.

During 1942, Germany attacked Convey PQ-17. Four different ships were damaged. Two were completely destroyed, and two had damages. The convoy scattered.

this was the exact day Irene arrived at Auschwitz